Christmas tree lights that were put up at Veterans Memorial Park in Worth were damaged over the weekend. Lights were cut and ripped off a couple of trees. A police report has been filed. New lights were being put up to replace the damaged ones. (Supplied photo)
Christmas tree lights damaged at Worth Veterans Park
By Joe Boyle
Damage took place sometime over the weekend to the Christmas tree lights that were put up at Veterans Memorial Park in Worth.
Bob O’Shaughnessy, supervisor of the Worth Park District, said they noticed that the Christmas tree lights were cut by an individual or individuals. O’Shaughnessy and employees noticed the damage after the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
The last full day of work for park district employees before the holiday was Nov. 23, O’Shaughnessy said. One tree had lights entirely cut off while a group of lights on another tree were damaged.
“They spent a lot of time putting the lights up on the trees,” O’Shaughnessy said about the work of his staff. “We have never had this happen before. The police are checking with nearby businesses to see if they have any camera footage.”
A police report has been filed, O’Shaughnessy said. It is his hope that this incident is an aberration that won’t be repeated.
O’Shaughnessy said that is what makes this incident so disheartening. He views the symbols at Veterans Memorial Park, 111th and Harlem, as sacred due to the Eternal Flame Memorial at the location in honor of U.S. veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Meanwhile, all the damaged lights were scheduled to be replaced by the end of the week. O’Shaughnessy said the park district and the village will move on from this incident. The tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to take place on the night of Friday, Dec. 2, near the Terrace Centre.
“It’s unfortunate this happened,” O’Shaughnessy said. “To do this at Veterans Memorial Park makes it worse. This is like sacred ground. It is like a cemetery. It could have been worse but this has never happened at any of the parks in the village before.”
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